Afghan Sikh leader holds out hope for dwindling minority

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Avtar Singh Khalsa will represent Afghanistan’s tiny Sikh and Hindu minority in the next parliament, where he says he hopes to serve the entire country.

Few Afghans are as invested in the government’s quest for peace and stability as the dwindling Sikh and Hindu minorities, which have been decimated by decades of conflict. The community numbered more than 80,000 in the 1970s, but today only around 1,000 remain.

Khalsa, a Sikh and longtime leader of the community, will run unopposed for a seat in the lower house of parliament that was apportioned to the minority by presidential decree in 2016. After the October election, he will be a solitary voice among 259 legislators, but hopes his 10 years of service in the Afghan army can help him secure a seat on the defense and security committee.

Welcome to my website

Hello and welcome to my website. Please browse through my selection of articles, pictures and videos to get up to date on my work as a Member of Parliament as well as all the great work our Conservative government is doing for Canada. I am here to serve my constituents and Canadians as a whole, so any feedback and comments are much appreciated. Thank you again for your continued support.

Newsletter Signup

Sign up below to receive Anderson News & Notes. You may unsubscribe at any time.